Mount Vernon Town Money Saver | July 2023

TIME TO SCHEDULE THE “MAKING OF MEMORIES” AT THE KNOX COUNTY FAIR

Submitted by Jim Stoner

As we age, we often reflect on times when we connected with our parents in unique and lasting ways. For me, I truly connected with my father, watching him in his element, at the Logan County Fair in Bellefontaine, Ohio.

It started small as Dad had me join 4-H and take a gardening project so I could be an exhibitor and get a free pass. Little did I know at the time, that mom and dad were both so busy during fair week, they just needed something to do with me that week—and it definitely was good for me. I went from gardening projects to showing rabbits, to high school wood-working projects, building friendships through my 4-H club, and of course driving back and forth with my parents.

Dad oversaw the huge wood project display in what looked enormous to me back then— and in reality was the envy of all of the other industrial arts teachers in the region. He loved showing off his students’ projects. He also liked showing family heirlooms in the antiques show, something different every year, and mom entered baking competitions and mostly kept track of me. Dad was a Fair Board member for decades, and I , of course,

followed suit on the Junior Fair Board. I eventually stayed in and helped care for the “baby animal tent.”

The fair at night was a different and exciting—altogether dynamic! Even being a small county fair, it really felt like it was THE place to be in the county that week. That hasn’t changed. For more than 150 years, the Knox County Fair reigns supreme with an enormous Junior Fair program, engaging hundreds of young, budding farmers, and is a center of pride and commerce for dozens of businesses from across the region!

Revisit the Knox County Fair in July and revisit the magic feelings you had in childhood. See many old friends that you know you are bound to see in a great, agricultural county like ours. I learned long ago that agriculture is Ohio’s number one industry, and wildly enough, that if Ohio was a country—its economy would rank 17th in the world when compared to all other political entities! Shows you how important agriculture is, eh?

So mark your calendar for the biggest social and economic celebration in Knox County as we have for 150+ years!

A NOTE FROM THE KNOX COUNTY FAIR

There is so much to see and do at the Knox County Fair. We hope you will come and spend a day, or two, or maybe all week with us and experience everything our great county fair has to offer.

The fair will have something happening all week whether you enjoy livestock competitions, tractor pulls (big and small), Demolition Derbies, or Rough Trucks, to all the food you could ever dream of or rides to make you dizzy.

Take time to visit with local companies and vendors who have the latest and greatest products.

For full activity schedule and ride information, visit knoxcountyfair.org

MadCapLivingHistoryNight

July6th,2023

LauraIngalls Wilder

Portrayedby AmyK.Stoner

Fromalittlegirlonthetheprairietofarmerswifetocelebrated children'sauthortoimmortalizedasaniconoftheAmerican frontier,LauraIngallsWilderhasbeenanintegralpartofmany Americansideaoftheearlypioneerwayoflife.Comelearn aboutwhatmadeLaura,Laura.

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